Unlike the existing networks which need to be intervened by ATM switches, SDH (Note 1) terminal equipment and others, KTH21 configures an epoch-making backbone network which connects fiber optics directly to high-speed routers, enabling ultra high-speed transmission at a terabit level through the whole network, as well as resulting in cost reduction to less than one hundredth of existing transmission costs.
KTH21 also provides high-speed economical access with offices, homes and mobile environments by equipping various access means such as fiber-optic access lines, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access), CATV networks, and IMT-2000, in addition to conventional local networks. As a result, KDD will have capability to furnish end-to-end high-speed economical networks optimized for next-generation multimedia applications including Electronic Commerce (EC), High-Speed Video Communications, and ITS.

The verification experiment from March is to be conducted in cooperation with manufacturers, domestic and foreign academic/research institutions and KDD Research and Development Laboratories, Inc., utilizing fiber-optic networks extended along with major expressways nationwide, JIH cables, and trans-Pacific fiber-optic submarine cables. The experiment includes network and application verification for its early commercial implementation, as well as research and development for IP over WDM (Note 2) and other innovative technologies.

Based on the results of this experiment, KDD will go forward switching major domestic trunk lines to the Terabit Highway by 2005, with its expansion to major international trunk lines linking Japan to the worldﾕs principal markets toward 2010.

(Note 1) SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy): An international standard for a hierarchical multiplexing method of signals over digital transmission systems.

(Note 2) IP over WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplex): A technology of high-speed transmission processing with a WDM method by connecting fiber optics directly to routers.